Jay-Z calls Minnesota governor as pressure mounts for justice over George Floyd death

Music mogul says he is ‘more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have’

Jay-Z made a call to Minnesota governor Tim Walz as part of his fight for justice in the case of George Floyd’s death.

At a press conference, Walz mentioned the call with Jay-Z and said the rapper and producer knows that “how Minnesota handles this is going to have an impact across the country”.

“It’s a positive sign that someone of a stature, that has a presence like that, is focused in the moment of what Minnesotas are focused on,” he said.

Jay-Z later issued a statement about the call via his label Roc Nation’s official Twitter account, in which he thanked Walz for bringing attorney general Keith Ellison on to take over the case.

“Earlier today, Governor Walz mentioned having a human conversation with me – a dad and a black man in pain,” he wrote.

“Yes, I am human, a father and a black man in pain and I am not the only one. This is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have.”

Jay-Z also urged politicians to “do the right thing and prosecute all those responsible for the murder of George Floyd to the fullest extent of the law”.

“I prevail on every politician, prosecutor, and officer in the country to have the courage to do what is right,” he said.

“Have the courage to look at us as humans, dads, brothers, sisters, and mothers in pain. And look at yourselves.”

Beyonce has also spoken out over Floyd’s killing via her own Instagram page, commenting: “We need justice for George Floyd. We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We’re broken and we’re disgusted. We cannot normalise this pain.”